Cardiff City’s new signing Jazz Richards was booed after refusing to do the ‘Ayatollah’ according to a report from Wales Online.
A tradition of Cardiff fans which hails back to the start of the 1990s is the players will do the Ayatollah on request of the players, a gesture where the player will raise his hands up and down above his head. Fans even made a music video about this gesture back in 2008.
During the opening game of the season where Cardiff drew 0-0 with Birmingham City, Richards was requested to do the Ayatollah at least seven times according to fans, but refused to do it on each occasion. Some have suggested that he did eventually do it, but it appears that most people did not see this.
And while some blamed ignorance on Richards’ part, his background suggests he must have some knowledge of the popular fans chant. He came through the Cardiff academy as a youngster but many have pointed to his lengthy period at their fierce rivals Swansea City and have said that is the reason he didn’t do the Ayatollah.
This led to fans being incredibly angry and accused Richards of being disrespectful to his new club and that he should do the Ayatollah in their next game to make things up to the fans.
Jazz Richards is silly if he refused to do the ayatollah all game. It's not like he can avoid doing it for the next three years. Pointless
— Scott Johnson (@roathboy) August 6, 2016
Shocking jazz Richards not doing the ayatollah! @BBCRadioWales he deffo heard as immers even showed him what to do..
— Morgan Evans (@Morgevs99) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/GeorgeR_13/status/762050994385588224
However he did get some defenders, with some saying that the fans shouldn’t make such a massive fuss over a minor thing.
Don't worry Cardiff fans, it's not personal. Jazz Richards doesn't "do" the timewarp, hustle, strand, math, harlem shuffle or conga either
— Paul Jennings (@ovenglovespj) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/Skinner1996Rhys/status/762242485200510976
Was booing Jazz Richards really justified? I've seen lots of different tweets, some saying he did the ayatollah others saying he didn't? 🙆🏼
— Britt 🏴 (@BrittanyJLaing) August 7, 2016